If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

The PD NBA Best Pick Left in the Draft 3

Derrick Rose was selected as the best pick in the NBA draft with 32 of the 47 votes.
Michael Beasley was selected at the second best pick in the NBA draft with 24 of 33 votes.

I want this to be a series of companion threads to Jose Slaughter's "The PD NBA Draft" threads.

That series will be about predicting what will happen on draft night. Picking based on what you think that the team in question will do.

What THIS series of threads is going to be for, is to simply generate a PD-consensus ranking of the best picks. The objective is to look at who is on the board, and say to yourself "If I'm trying to take the best talent, not just for today, but for the long-term, what is the best pick to make?"

My apologies/thanks to Jose Slaughter in advance. I'm only able to do this because of his work creating the lists of players out there and his work providing the details on some of those players, which I will be using for this series as well.

Jose will be going every three days, and I will match him. That means this first pick will be cut short by a day, but after that we'll be lined up.

Who is the best player on the board as of the 1st pick in the 2008 draft?

What is the overall best pick to make if you are looking for the best player REGARDLESS of whether they already are, or soon will be.

Accolades: Gatorade Player of the Year – Arizona – high school (06 & 07), First Team All-Arizona – high school (04, 05, 06, 07), McDonald’s All-American – high school (07), First Team Parade All-American – high school (07), USA U-18 Team (06).

Scouting Report: A lightning quick scoring point guard.

Strengths: Blow-by quickness – leaves defenders in the dust. Great slasher – gets to the hoop and finishes. Great at drawing fouls and a superb free throw shooter. Solid, quick defender. An explosive scorer – had three straight 30-plus point games in Pac-10 competition this year. Three-point range on his jumper. Versatile – can play both guard spots. Can elevate and hit his jumper over defenders. Can be unstoppable off the dribble – very good at getting by and/or eluding defenders. Decent assist man. Shoots for a high percentage for a guard.

Weaknesses: Inexperienced – only one year of college. Is not really a true point guard – more of a combo guard. More of a scorer than a passer. Turns the ball over too much. Will need time to learn to run an NBA offense and learn the pro point guard game. A little undersized for the NBA, especially if he plays some shooting guard.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Between number three and number six overall.

Consensus: Bayless’ draft stock has exploded as the season has gone on and he continues to pile the points on the board. His offensive skills are NBA ready, but in order to really excel he will have to become more of a point guard or risk becoming a dreaded “tweener”.

Strengths: Lightning quick. Can get into the lane with ease. Good leaper. Uncanny knack for splitting double-teams. Good ability to use the rim as a shield and hit tough lay-ups to avoid defenders. Excellent playmaker and passer. Takes great care of the ball – twice as many assists as turnovers. Solid physique. Prolific scorer – nineteen 20-plus point games his sophomore year. Good three-point shooter – hit about two a game this year. Solid free throw shooter. Used to playing heavy minutes.

Weaknesses: Height – will be vastly undersized for the NBA - may actually be 5’11”. Bigger, stronger NBA guards will give him problems on both ends of the floor (like against Memphis in the Elite Eight). Can be a streaky scorer – went 3 for 25 from the field combined in back-to-back games. Doesn’t shoot for an extremely high percentage.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Lottery to late first round pick.

Consensus: If D.J. Augustin is to excel in the NBA he will have to be a trendsetter - there are currently no sub-six foot stars in the League. There is no doubt he has the speed, skill-set and intelligence to play at the next level, but to become a star he will have to be find a way to slay the NBA’s Goliaths.

Accolades: Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (08), Pac-10 All-Defensive Team (08), Third Team All-Pac-10 (08).

Scouting Report: An NBA-level athlete able to play both backcourt positions.

Strengths: Versatile – can ably play both point and shooting guard positions. Tremendous athlete. Can jump out of the gym. Great defender – had 63 steals his sophomore year. Very good assist man who takes good care of the ball. Has three-point range on his jumper. Capable scorer. Long wingspan. Big hands. Got to practice against some very good guards his two years at UCLA. Great work ethic. Game seems to vastly improve with each year – late bloomer.

Weaknesses: Very inexperienced – didn’t play many minutes his freshman year. Will need more experience playing the point guard spot. Needs to become a more consistent outside shooter. Still quite inconsistent and streaky. Is he a dreaded “tweener” (no real position)?

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Lottery pick.

Consensus: Westbrook is an NBA highlight reel type of athlete that excels at both ends of the floor. His ability to play both guard positions makes him even more valuable, however, due to his size he will have to become more of a pure point guard. With his skills and athletic ability the sky is the limit.

Accolades:
West Virginia Player of the Year – high school (07), EA Sports National High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year (07), McDonald’s All-American (07), First Team Parade All-American (07), First Team Parade All-American (06), Second Team Parade All-American (05), First Team USA Today All-USA Team (07, 06, 05), Mr. Basketball – Ohio – high school (06 & 05).

Scouting Report:
Much-hyped combo guard with a solid all-around game.

Strengths:
Prolific scorer – averaging over 20 ppg as a freshman in the Pac-10 is quite a feat. Great body control. Good ball handler and a great passer. Capable of playing either guard positions. Strong physique. Good range on jumper. Solid free throw shooter. Solid defender. Can hit difficult shots with defense on him. Used to pressure/attention – has been in the spotlight since before high school.

Weaknesses:
Takes a lot of shots – needs the ball. Takes questionable shots. Turnover prone – more turnovers than assists. On court & off court incidents in high school raised concerns about his attitude/character. Older than other freshmen – will be turning 21-years-old at start of next NBA season. Still inexperienced, only playing one year of college ball.

Projected 2008 Draft Range:
Top 10 pick.

Consensus:
With the exception of LeBron James, few players can live up to the hype heaped on them at an early age. O.J. Mayo is one of those players. Projected as a NBA superstar since the seventh grade, Mayo has fallen out of favor as of late. Still, he is a spectacular basketball player and should have no trouble becoming an impact NBA player. Whether he will become the superstar he was projected to be is up in the air still.

Accolades:
Mr. Basketball – Indiana – high school (07), Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year – high school (07), McDonald’s All-American (07).

Scouting Report:
An explosive, athletic shooting guard.

Strengths:
An explosive scorer – topped 30 points in three of his first four NCAA games. Capable passer with decent court vision. Very quick and athletic. Relentlessly attacks the hoop. Great leaper. Very sweet looking shot. Shoots for a very high percentage from the floor, the foul line and behind the three-point arc. Strong build – NBA strength. Poised - used to playing in front of hostile crowds.

Weaknesses:
Undersized for an NBA two-guard – some sites have him listed at only 6’3”. Very young and inexperienced – will only be 19-years-old when the NBA season tips off. Turnover prone – notches more turnovers than assists. Needs to work on point guard skills for the NBA.

Projected 2008 Draft Range:
Top five pick.

Consensus:
Gordon’s athleticism, explosiveness, strength and skills should allow him to score a bunch at the NBA level. The key for him to really excel is to develop his point guard skills (or grow a couple of inches).

Strengths: Great slasher. Very good floater shot he is confident shooting from deep. Long arms (6’9” wingspan). Experience playing in big games. Decent ball handler. Good rebounder. Good height/length for an NBA two guard. Used to being the go-to guy on one of the country’s best teams. Decent defender – long arms helps get steals. Accurate three-point shooter. Shot for a fantastic average for a guard – over 53% FG all three years in college. Crafty player – knows how to get the job down.

Weaknesses: Very thin – needs to bulk up a bit for the NBA. Not an off-the-charts athlete. Didn’t play in one of the top conferences. Can he guard the NBA’s top wing players? Needs to improve his assists to turnovers to play guard in the NBA. Good three-point shooter but didn’t hit very many – just over one a game. Missed clutch free throws in the NCAA championship game.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Late lottery to late first round pick.

Consensus: CDR couldn’t have had a much better junior season with the Tigers (besides that loss to Kansas). It is hard to pin down how effective he will be in the NBA with his unique style, but with his good length and tricky game he should make a nice living in the NBA.

Strengths: Young but experienced – played pro since 2004. Plays in the top league outside of the NBA, the Euroleague. Despite being only 19-years-old, he is the best player on his team. Very good offensive player. Great shooting stroke. Long arms. Very good off the dribble – can go left or right and finishes strong. Great leaper. Can hit the tough shot. Shooting range extends to three-point territory. Good size and strength for a small forward. Solid defender – moves feet, blocks shots, grabs steals. Great free throw shooter and knows how to get himself to the line.

Weaknesses: Needs to improve his three-point accuracy, and get used to the deeper NBA line. Quick and strong for Europe, but is he athletic and strong enough to guard NBA small or power forwards? Still isn’t totally consistent – had a zero point Euroleague outing. Will take time to adjust to the NBA game. Still young – won’t turn 20-years-old until August.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Lottery pick.

Consensus: Gallinari is a very impressive NBA prospect and should be a solid NBA pro. Whether he has as much “upside” as a prospect like Nicolas Batum is debatable, but Gallinari is definitely more NBA-ready than Batum and has the potential to be an above average NBA player.

Accolades: Honorable Mention All-Freshman – CHN (08), Second Team All-Big East (08), Big East All-Rookie Team (08), USA Under-19 National Team (07), McDonald’s All-American – high school (07), First Team All-American – Parade – high school (07), Second Team All-USA Today – high school (07), USA Under-18 National Team (06).

Scouting Report: An athletic forward with great size for the wing spot.

Strengths: Great size for the small forward position. Great shooting touch. Can hit shots over defenders. Shooting range goes out beyond the three-point arc – hit almost three three-pointers a game his freshman season. Versatile scorer – three-pointers, fast-breaks, one-on-one moves. Can get out and run the floor. Very good rebounder. Good vertical. Can be an explosive scorer – fourteen 20 plus point games his freshman year.

Weaknesses: Doesn’t have an above-average wingspan. Can he guard NBA small forwards or power forwards? Played mostly zone defense at Syracuse. Needs to work on his ball-handling. Inexperienced – only one year of college. Needs to cut down on turnovers – had more turnovers than assists this year. Shoots way too many three-pointers – almost eight a game. Needs to get stronger and bigger. His three-point accuracy (less than 35%) needs to improve. Inconsistent.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Late lottery to late first round pick.

Consensus: There aren’t too many guys with Donte’ Greene’s size, athleticism and shooting range so NBA teams will be intrigued by him. But his draft stock is all over the board and he could use at least another year in college to get his body ready for the pros and to improve his consistency.

Strengths: Huge wingspan – over 7 feet. Great height/length for a small forward. Used to going up against top-notch competition – currently plays in the world’s second best pro league, the Euroleague. Held his own against the States’ top high school players in last year’s Nike Hoop Summit – 23 points. Shoots for a high percentage. Shooting range goes out beyond the three-point line. Very athletic – can get out and run and has good leaping ability. Length comes in handy on the defensive end – deflects passes and blocks shots. Very good playmaker for a wing player.

Weaknesses: Inconsistent – doesn’t always assert himself. Needs to add strength and weight for the NBA game. Very young – won’t turn 20-years-old until December. Needs to improve his three-point accuracy. Needs to work on his shooting mechanics – needs to follow through more. More potential than finished product right now.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Lottery pick.

Consensus: Batum’s combination of length and athleticism has NBA scouts drooling. Whoever drafts him will have to be patient, but as his game and body matures Batum could be an excellent NBA pro. However, similar to fellow Frechman Boris Diaw, Batum can get you a triple-double one night and then bring nothing to the stat sheet the next – his consistency and aggression level have been questioned.

Accolades: Wooden All-American (08), First Team All-American – AP (08), First Team All-American – USBWA (08), First Team All-American – CHN (08), First Team All-Freshman – CHN (08), Pac-10 Player of the Year (08), First Team All-Pac-10 (08), Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (08), Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (08), Honorable Mention Pac-10 All-Defensive Team (08), Male High School Player of the Year – Naismith, Wooden, USA Today, McDonald’s, Parade, National High School Coaches Association (07), McDonald’s All-American – high school (07), First Team Parade All-American – high school (07), Gatorade National Male Athlete of the Year – high school (07), First Team Parade All-American – high school (06).

Scouting Report: A man among boys in the post his freshman collegiate season.

Strengths: Extremely strong and solid – gets position down low and is impossible to move. Very smart player. Supremely talented passer – excels leading fast breaks with long inbounds passes. Very strong passer also – can chest pass the full length of the court. Good low post scorer. Wide body. Has range on his jumper out beyond the collegiate three-point line. Good genes – his dad was an NBA player. Has proven to be a winner at the collegiate level. Solid free throw shooter.

Weaknesses: Not an NBA athlete – not much of a leaper, not super quick getting up and down the floor. Lacks explosiveness. Very inexperienced with only one year of college under his belt. Will be short for the post in the NBA – may only be 6’9”. Lacks foot speed to guard the athletes in the NBA. Doesn’t have the “upside” you’d hope to get with a lottery pick. Needs to get his body into better shape for the NBA.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Lottery Pick

Consensus: While it must be very difficult to pass up a chance to be a NBA lottery pick, Kevin Love may regret giving up his last three years of college eligibility. Love had the chance to go down as one of the best players to ever suit up for UCLA, but instead he will enter the NBA where his lack of height, athleticism and explosiveness will limit him. While he probably won’t be a star in the pros, his smarts, strength and passing ability will allow him to carve out a career in the NBA.

Strengths: Wingspan – uses long limbs to his benefit on offense and defense. Great at blocking and altering shots. Very quick/athletic for his height. Competitive spirit. Quick face up post moves. Good leaping ability. Good shooting touch for a player his size. Fast feet on defense. Good ballhandler for an almost 7-footer. Capable of playing out on the wing or in the post. Lots of potential. Good rebounder – had nine double-digit rebounding games his freshman year. Good at slashing and getting to the hoop. Gets to the free throw line a decent amount of times.

Weaknesses: Very thin – will get abused in the post in the NBA. Very inexperienced. Turnover prone – averaged three turnovers a game. Can he guard NBA post players? Will need to improve his three-point touch if he is to play the wing in the NBA. Played mostly power forward in college.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Top 10 to Lottery Pick

Consensus: Anthony Randolph is the ultimate “potential” pick – he’s not ready for the NBA yet, but his package of skills and length make him real attractive to potential suitors. He could end up being a star, but on the flip side, his game and body needs enough work that he also could turn out to be a bust.

Strengths: Very athletic for his size – can run the floor, good jumping ability. Good range on his jumper. Solid back to the basket moves. Gets good position in post and attacks. Good passer. Good shot blocker. Has the ability to take his man off the dribble. Long wingspan.

Weaknesses: Will need to add some weight/strength to play the post in the NBA. Still inexperienced and young. Due to Kansas’ depth he never played major minutes in college – averaged less than 20 mpg his freshman year, less than 24 mpg his sophomore season. Also never put up big stats due to the Jayhawks’ depth. Foul prone.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Lottery pick to mid-first round pick.

Consensus: Watching Arthur play he just looks the part of an NBA prospect. With decent size, wingspan and offensive skills, Arthur is made for the pro game. He might not be ready right away, but within a few seasons he should be a NBA starter.

Scouting Report: A long, athletic big man who came on after being a relative unknown to start his college career.

Strengths: Long wingspan. Shoots for a very high percentage from the field – over 60% each year. Practiced against three future NBA big men his freshman year (Horford, Noah, Richard). Nice shooting touch for a big man. Athletic for a big man. Good hands. Has good NBA size. Good shot-blocker. Very good rebounder. Got more consistent as his sophomore season progressed.

Weaknesses: Very inexperienced – didn’t play much his freshman year. Age – will be 21-years-old in August, making him older than other sophomores. Has had conditioning issues in the past. Has to improve his low post game. Needs to get tougher. Needs work on the defensive end.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Late first round to early second round pick.

Consensus: No doubt Marreese Speights has a future in the NBA due to his size and skills. However, considering he doesn’t appear to be a first round lock this year he should go back to Gainesville for his junior season.

Strengths: Long, lean and athletic – has a NBA frame that looks like it is capable of filling out even more. Can run the floor well for a big man. Plays tough – not afraid to go to the floor and mix it up. Nice jump hook shot that he uses often. Soft touch down low. Catches the ball and attacks immediately in the post – not hesitant. Good shot blocker. Good free throw shooter, especially for a big man. Very good at drawing fouls and getting to the line. Capable of explosive scoring outbursts.

Weaknesses: Still inexperienced – missed first five games last season and first nine games this year. Needs to develop more moves in the post – uses the jump hook too often. Shoots for a much lower field goal percentage (under 50%) than other top big man prospects. Is foul prone. Would like to see more boards from a player with his size and skills.

Projected 2008 Draft Range:
Top five pick.

Consensus: The best big man prospect in the draft not named Beasley, Lopez should make whatever NBA drafts him very happy. He should be a solid pro with the potential to be even better than that.

Strengths: Big, strong frame. Along with 7-foot height he has a long wingspan. Hard worker – a gym rat. Good hands. Able to put the ball on the floor to score. Uses the glass wisely on jump shots. Tough rebounder. Possesses three-point range on his jumper. Great face up shooter. Soft touch down low. Great shot blocker. Was the best player at a high-level international tournament last summer. Seems to play better in big games.

Weaknesses: Not super fast or athletic. Tends to face-up to the hoop more than post up. Can drift out to beyond the arc too often. Still inexperienced – big guys tend to need more time to develop. Does he have the foot speed to guard mobile NBA big men?

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Mid first round pick.

Consensus: Players with Kosta Koufos’ size and skill package don’t come along too often, so his decision to enter the draft shouldn’t come as a surprise. While he would probably benefit from at least another year in college, Koufos should be an early pick this year and could pan out to be an above-average pro.

Strengths: Long wingspan – blocks and alters shots with it. Soft hands in the post – catches difficult passes and converts. Good springs – can get off the floor. Can run the floor well for a big body. Good at getting post position. Solid rebounder. Shoots for a very high percentage from the field.

Weaknesses: Still more prospect than NBA player right now – will need time to develop. Very inexperienced – only played one season of college ball and didn’t play huge minutes (about 20/game). Productivity declined as his freshman season went on. Still a little clumsy. Needs to add some more muscle to his frame. Horrible free throw shooter – barely above 40%. Offensive game is still a work in progress – averages less than 10 points per game.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Top 10 pick.

Consensus: Whichever NBA team drafts Jordan will have to be patient with him. As the Lakers can attest with Andrew Bynum, the wait could be well worth it as Jordan has all the makings of a quality NBA big.

Strengths: Extremely long wingspan – reportedly measuring at 7’6”. Very athletic for his size. Can run the floor. Attacks the rim and dunks often. Good hands. Makes quick moves once he gets the ball. Terrific shot-blocker. Has a good hook shot in the post. Has range on his jumper – can hit the college three-pointer. Able to put the ball on the floor and get by defenders.

Weaknesses: Very inexperienced – only played significant minutes his sophomore year. Didn’t play in a BCS conference, so didn’t go up against top talent every game. Poor free throw shooter. Needs to get physically stronger for the NBA. Will have to learn to post up stronger for the NBA. NBA players will be able to overpower him and back him down when he is on defense. Extremely turnover prone – had four times as many turnovers than assists this past season.

Projected 2008 Draft Range: Late lottery to mid first round pick.

Consensus: JaVale McGee is the ultimate “high-risk, high-reward” pick. His length and athleticism are very enticing, but with his game and body still a work in progress there is no guarantee he’ll ever turn out to be a solid NBA pro.

Re: The PD NBA Best Pick Left in the Draft 3

I voted for Mayo, but, largely, I'd rather pick 11th than 3rd in this draft. I think this is a two-man draft, then a whole bunch of guys who could either turn out to be solid pros or completely crap out.

Of that second bunch, I guess Mayo seems to have the most potential, or that's just what popped into my head when I Rohrshacked it.